Vince Olea
Seeking to better engage and animate the life-giving capacity of young people, Vince is the creator of an innovative narrative approach to Catholic ministry with youth and young adults outlined in his book, But I Don’t Speak Spanish: A Narrative Approach to Ministry with Young People (Paulist Press, 2019).
As a Catholic pastoral leader who has served inner-city, rural and coastal communities, Vince has held positions throughout California, including serving as the Director of Santa Teresita Youth Conference Center for the Diocese of Fresno; Youth Minister & Immersion Coordinator at Dolores Mission in Boyle Heights, CA; West Coast Program Manager for the Jesuit Volunteer Corps; and Team Leader Specialist for the Santa Monica Chronic Homeless Program. Over the years, Vince has also worked as a concert promoter and a consultant on rites of passage for a major independent film production company.
Vince holds a B.A. and M.A. in Theological Studies from Loyola Marymount University, and a Doctorate in Ministry from Barry University, with an emphasis in Hispanic ministry and theology. He is a member of the Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the United States.
Vince has published articles in The Journal of Hispanic Latino Theology, U.S. Hispanic Ministry.com, Ministry and Liturgy, The Journal of Religion and Film, Radical Grace, the North County Times, and has contributed a chapter on at-risk Hispanic youth in Our Catholic Children: Ministry with Hispanic Youth and Young Adults (Ed. Hosffman Ospino, Our Sunday Visitor, 2018).